Australian Native Plants

  Cryptostylis hunteriana (Leafless Tongue-orchid)


Cryptostylis hunteriana photo
Wallaroo Track, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia. possibly Cryptostylis hunteriana

Photograph by Poyt448 Peter Woodard. License: Public Domain.    (view image details)




PLANT FACTS

distribution map showing range of Cryptostylis hunteriana in Australia

Map is from The Atlas of Living Australia web site, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License


Common Name
Leafless Tongue-orchid

Other Names
Furred Tongue-orchid

Description
The Leafless Tongue-orchid as its name suggests is a leafless terrestrial orchid from eastern Australia. The plant usually produces five to ten flowers in summer from November to February. The flowers, which are held upright, have a large tongue-shaped labellum which is red and covered in dense hairs on the upper surface giving it a furry appearance. The other petals and sepals are green and narrow. This orchid can be distinguished from other tongue-orchids by its lack of leaves. The plant is often found in colonies.

Habitat
found in a variety of habitats including heathland, woodland, wooded wetland and rainforest

Distribution
Cryptostylis hunteriana is found in coastal areas of eastern New South Wales, eastern Victoria and south east Queensland

Growth Characteristics
Height: 10cm - 45cm
Classification
Class:Liliopsida
Order:Asparagales
Family:Orchidaceae
Genus:Cryptostylis
Species:hunteriana
Common Name:Leafless Tongue-orchid


Relatives in same Genus
  Cryptostylis erecta
  Cryptostylis leptochila
  Cryptostylis subulata